Illinois on Monday morning fired athletic director Mike Thomas and will address the findings of an independent investigation into the athletic department (which can be found here in full) at noon E.T.
On Aug. 28, just a week before its scheduled season opener against Kent State, Thomas fired football coach Tim Beckman citing the preliminary results of an external review into allegations of player mistreatment. Here’s what Thomas said back in August, via Illinois’ release:During a preliminary briefing from the external reviewers, Thomas said he learned of efforts to deter injury reporting and influence medical decisions that pressured players to avoid or postpone medical treatment and continue playing despite injuries. He also said in some instances student-athletes were treated inappropriately with respect to whether they could remain on scholarship during the spring semester of their senior year if they weren’t on the team.
“Both of those findings are unsettling violations of University policy and practice and do not reflect the culture that we wish to create in athletic programs for our young people,” Thomas said. “I expect my coaches to protect players and foster their success on and off the field.”
Thomas got his first job as an athletic director with Akron in 2000 and took over as Cincinnati’s A.D. in October of 2005. He was hired by Illinois in August of 2011 and hired Beckman from Toledo following the 2011 season.
Illinois will move forward with a to-be-determined interim athletic director as well as interim football coach Bill Cubit, who’s guided the Illini to a 5-4 record with games vs. Ohio State, at Minnesota and vs. Northwestern (at Soldier Field) remaining.